ENHANCING NON-SPECIALIST IRAQI STUDENTS' MOTIVATION AND THEIR ENGLISH LEARNING BY USING INSTAGRAM DURING COVIED-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Over the decade of new technologies, the image of language teaching and learning has undergone significant changes. Using numerous applications via computers and mobile phones like Face book, Instagram, Telegram, and Twitter has paved the way for EFL teachers to innovatively shaping their English language teaching and learning strategies and approaches in a diverse, interactive, and social environment. Instagram has a beneficial feature because it falls under the social networking group, and contact is the key source of networking. The great effect of using social media for enhancing students' English learning has proved by many researches, however, the researches about using Instagram for teaching Iraqi students are limited. This paper is performed to describe using Instagram for enhancing the non-specialist EFL Iraqi students' motivation and their English learning during Covied-19 Pandemic as well as increasing their involvement in engaging and communicating with peers. It investigated the participation of students in online discussions and their comment on using Instagram as the forum for English language learning activities. Fifty students from Firstyear, Department of Computer Engineering-University of Technology participated in this research. The results of the study showed that Instagram is undeniably an important platform
for student interactions, particularly when discussing their task-related activities. The students involved seemed to be more inspired and they enjoy connecting and interacting with peers as Instagram has sparked their interest in English language learning.